Russian Ark is impressive in many ways, but its setting (Tsar Peter's Hermitage) imposes a severe limitation- we mostly see the heavily Westernized, largely aristocratic part of Russia. A lot of what distinguishes Russian culture is missing from the museum and therefore from the film. I would say the Hermitage, as big as it is, is not big enough to be the ark of Russian culture.

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"A riddle or the cricket's cryIs to doubt a fit reply." - William Blake

Russian Ark is impressive in many ways, but its setting (Tsar Peter's Hermitage) imposes a severe limitation- we mostly see the heavily Westernized, largely aristocratic part of Russia. A lot of what distinguishes Russian culture is missing from the museum and therefore from the film. I would say the Hermitage, as big as it is, is not big enough to be the ark of Russian culture.

I think that was a major point in the movie, and that's where I see elements of Faust come into play.

The Narrator is Faust: a disembodied, lost spirit seeking transcendental answers, "Why Am I Here?" (also, place IS plot, in this movie!)

He encounters Mephistopholes - The European Marquis. They wander through the museum seeking 'Gretchen', Faust's Great Love, which in this case is the Soul of Russia, in the elements of culture preserved there.

The Marquis is everything Russia is not. He is Europe, and like Mephisto, he at first criticizes Her, then seeks to seduce her with jewels and luxury; then corrupt her (he is Roman Catholic, for example), and finally claim her soul. As she becomes more like him, the more he praises her, until finally proclaims, "No, I'm not leaving here"!

A critical point is when they find a small portrait of common people, and the Marquis jealously refers to them ad "Eternal People, who go on...". Another key moment is at the end, after the Grand Ball, as the Narrator exits, someone in the crowd asks, "Where is She? Oh, see, she is still here, nothing has happened to her", just before the Narrator opens the final door onto the great sea of the future.

Anyway, that's what I got out of it. Was fun to watch a movie that was actually produced as a work of art, rather than a simple telling of a tale.

Russian Ark is impressive in many ways, but its setting (Tsar Peter's Hermitage) imposes a severe limitation- we mostly see the heavily Westernized, largely aristocratic part of Russia. A lot of what distinguishes Russian culture is missing from the museum and therefore from the film. I would say the Hermitage, as big as it is, is not big enough to be the ark of Russian culture.

Outside of Gogol, all things Russian are but footnotes to things German.

Russian Ark is impressive in many ways, but its setting (Tsar Peter's Hermitage) imposes a severe limitation- we mostly see the heavily Westernized, largely aristocratic part of Russia. A lot of what distinguishes Russian culture is missing from the museum and therefore from the film. I would say the Hermitage, as big as it is, is not big enough to be the ark of Russian culture.

Outside of Gogol, all things Russian are but footnotes to things German.

Only if your Russian readings are restricted to 19th century novels and tales. Gogol didn't appear out of thin air.

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"A riddle or the cricket's cryIs to doubt a fit reply." - William Blake

Russian Ark is impressive in many ways, but its setting (Tsar Peter's Hermitage) imposes a severe limitation- we mostly see the heavily Westernized, largely aristocratic part of Russia. A lot of what distinguishes Russian culture is missing from the museum and therefore from the film. I would say the Hermitage, as big as it is, is not big enough to be the ark of Russian culture.

Outside of Gogol, all things Russian are but footnotes to things German.

Only if your Russian readings are restricted to 19th century novels and tales. Gogol didn't appear out of thin air.

Hey, at least he gave the Russians one thing to hang their hat on. Most cultures and/or nations across the world get complete disdain from him

Russian Ark is impressive in many ways, but its setting (Tsar Peter's Hermitage) imposes a severe limitation- we mostly see the heavily Westernized, largely aristocratic part of Russia. A lot of what distinguishes Russian culture is missing from the museum and therefore from the film. I would say the Hermitage, as big as it is, is not big enough to be the ark of Russian culture.

Outside of Gogol, all things Russian are but footnotes to things German.

Only if your Russian readings are restricted to 19th century novels and tales. Gogol didn't appear out of thin air.

He did actually.

The Russians are like the Japanese. Automata which consume . . . wait are we in the politics forum?

Russian Ark is impressive in many ways, but its setting (Tsar Peter's Hermitage) imposes a severe limitation- we mostly see the heavily Westernized, largely aristocratic part of Russia. A lot of what distinguishes Russian culture is missing from the museum and therefore from the film. I would say the Hermitage, as big as it is, is not big enough to be the ark of Russian culture.

Outside of Gogol, all things Russian are but footnotes to things German.

Only if your Russian readings are restricted to 19th century novels and tales. Gogol didn't appear out of thin air.

He did actually.

The Russians are like the Japanese. Automata which consume . . . wait are we in the politics forum?

If you really want to start making generalizations, at least read some of this:

Russian Ark is impressive in many ways, but its setting (Tsar Peter's Hermitage) imposes a severe limitation- we mostly see the heavily Westernized, largely aristocratic part of Russia. A lot of what distinguishes Russian culture is missing from the museum and therefore from the film. I would say the Hermitage, as big as it is, is not big enough to be the ark of Russian culture.

Outside of Gogol, all things Russian are but footnotes to things German.

Only if your Russian readings are restricted to 19th century novels and tales. Gogol didn't appear out of thin air.

He did actually.

The Russians are like the Japanese. Automata which consume . . . wait are we in the politics forum?

If you really want to start making generalizations, at least read some of this:

Yes, I will get right to that as soon as I take a toothbrush to the sidewalk outside.

* had the sense of it, I was just stirring the pot. However, like most pot stirring I am correct.

What people here gush about that is Russian or pretty much anywhere exists solely in light of the Russians attempting to come to terms with their cultural betters and benefactors, the German speaking people.

Or the Ancient Greeks, who were just trying to be Germans as well.

Seriously, I'll see what the resell value are on those recommendations. I spent the greater part of the day craigslisting, ebaying, amazoning my life away. Maybe I will pick those volumes up some time.

Going on a man date to see Titanic on Saturday. I also got Gettysburg in the Netflix queue but I haven't the slightest idea when I'll be able to afford to watch it with AP tests, finals and end-of-the-year projects coming up.

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Apart from moral conduct, all that man thinks himself able to do in order to become acceptable to God is mere superstition and religious folly. - Immanuel Kant

This movie often gets described as a docuwhatever about steroids, but it's actually about deeper issues that have taken root in American culture. Steroids in sports just happens to be a rather visible example of the larger issue being dealt with.

If you will, you can become all flame.Extra caritatem nulla salus.In order to become whole, take the "I" out of "holiness". सर्वभूतहितἌνω σχῶμεν τὰς καρδίας"Those who say religion has nothing to do with politics do not know what religion is." -- Mohandas GandhiY dduw bo'r diolch.

It really is shocking when people rate Aliens over the original Alien. Ridley Scott was such an amazing visionary during his early career. The upcoming Prometheus seems to be in the same vein like his older films, but we will see.

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“There is your brother, naked, crying, and you stand there confused over the choice of an attractive floor covering.”

I have owned the DVD for a year now, but never got around to watching it--or I guess I was putting it off. I thought Wrong Turn 2 was pretty good, thanks in large part to a heavy dose of Henry Rollins. Wrong Turn 1 was a snoozefest. So anyway, I bought #3 at Walmart for like $5, but when I got home and read a few reviews of it I got completely turned off to it, and decided not to watch it. Last night I was bored of watching Evil Dead 2 for the 1000th time (no exaggeration), so I popped it in.

It wasn't that bad. Not as bad as the reviews I've seen seen said it was, anyway. It was filmed in Bulgaria, which was certainly nicer looking than seeing California for the thousandth time in a movie (though I think the previous two movies in this franchise were in filmed in WV, where the story takes place). The main issue I had with the movie is that it tried to pull off too many plot twists. Every eight minutes they threw a curveball at you. It wasn't an overly complicated story/backstory, but it was just too wide reaching or disparate for it's own good. The best example of this problem was the ending, which I'm not going to spoil, but let's just say that it was way more complicated and swervy than it needed to be.

But for the most part I enjoyed the movie. It was a gory horror flick, and delivered what you'd expect from that type of movie. It had some interesting kills. It had some monsters. It had some gratuitous nudity. It had some bad acting (though only in spots, IMO). It had some stereotypical characters. It had a lot of plot twists. And so on. It was less campy than the 2nd Wrong Turn, but also less entertaining. The only other thing I can think of is: I was fairly frustrated that there was no audio commentary included (though there were at least a few short extras in which the director and others discuss the movie... sort of a poor man's excuse for a commentary).

The Outlaw Josie Wales. Great movie about the MO/KS border skirmishes during the War Between the States. Based on real-life happenings in Osceola, MO. Now, Osceola is known for it's cheese. Mmmmm, cheese.

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"The Scots-Irish; Brewed in Scotland, bottled in Ireland, uncorked in America." ~Scots-Irish saying